Environmental Issue of Microsoft's Support Cessation for Windows 10; Millions of Computers to be Recycled

A research report from the technology market analysis company Canalys states that Microsoft's plan to stop support for the Windows 10 operating system could lead to approximately 240 million computers being sent for recycling. Microsoft intends to cease support for Windows 10 by October 2025 but offers a plan for continued support and security updates for Windows 10 until October 2028 for an unspecified annual fee. According to Reuters, the electronic waste from computers running Windows 10 that will no longer be used could weigh around 480 million kilograms, equivalent to the weight of 320,000 cars. While many of these computers may remain operational for years after Microsoft stops support for Windows 10, Canalys states that devices 'without security updates' have few customers. The technology market analysis firm believes that if the pricing structure for Windows 10 support remains the same as before, purchasing new computers may become more cost-effective, increasing the number of old computers that need to be scrapped. Microsoft has not responded to Reuters' request for comment on the environmental impacts of discarding devices incompatible with Windows 11; however, according to the news agency, hard drives from computers and data storage servers could be recycled to gather materials for use in electric vehicle engines and even renewable energy production. Microsoft launched the Windows 10 operating system on May 31, 2015. Windows 10 was designed to be compatible with smartphones, allowing users to use the same operating system on their personal computers, tablets, phones, or other electronic devices simultaneously. The next generation of this American company's operating system, expected to bring advanced artificial intelligence technology to personal computers, could further boost the lukewarm personal computer market.